[Translation] Oricon's PSP (PS Company People) 1800 feat. Ruki (the GazettE) & Shou (Alice Nine) - Part 1

―― Anyways. It’s fine whatever you’d like to talk about, so the plan is to have a 30 minutes free talk.

【RUKI】 Ahahaha. What a high hurdle, huh (lol). I’m pretty widely shaken up (lol).

【Shou】 My tension is rising, y’know.

【RUKI】 Let’s just relax (lol). This had better not turn rough. This plan.

―― That’s how you want it, I understand (lol).

【RUKI】 Yosh. Okay, first of all, please treat us favorably.

【Shou】 Ah, excuse me.

【RUKI】 Why are you apologizing, all of a sudden (lol)!

【Shou】 No no, I’m sorry (lol).

【RUKI】 That’s why (lol)!

【Shou】 No (lol). This is the first time we’re having this 1 on 1 conversation, as I’ve expected, I’m nervous. We’ve had the opportunity ((to do an interview like this)) together with the other members, but this is my first time having this new kind of conversation.

【RUKI】 That’s right, this is the first time we get to talk face to face, now I realize it.

【Shou】 The year that my band started, the GazettE-san had already been around for a year or so. We were given the chance to perform on a stage in a Live House that was like Takadanobaba phase at the same day. We were still like a childish band, but the GazettE-san was becoming an amazing band from that time. They were already awesome from that moment, huh, that’s the sort of feeling I had.

【RUKI】 Wait wait, it’s better if you tone it down a bit, Shou-kun (lol).

―― Ah, I think that’s RUKI-kun’s duty (lol).

【Shou】 Ah, I’m sorry. I started this with such a tough basis (lol). Moreover, he’s absolutely a great senior.

【RUKI】 Wait, wait a second (lol), don’t treat people like they’re some old geezer! We’re from the same generation.

【Shou】 Well, even if that’s the case.

【RUKI】 Also, before Alice Nine was formed, when Shou was in his previous band, I had already known his existence, although we had never spoken to each other.

【Shou】 Thank you!

―― Because the GazettE was formed in 2002, and Alice Nine in 2004, huh. Speaking about bands, you’re a senior by 2 years.

【RUKI】 Yes, yes. I’m just saying I’m not his senior ((in the matter of age)).

【Shou】 No, but, as expected 2 years is a big gap. I formed my first visual kei band in 2002. It’s because we’re really still childish.

―― When the two of you came to know each other, what sort of impression did that moment leave you with?

【Shou】 Naw, I really don’t want to talk about that.

【RUKI】 Why not! (lol) But we didn’t talk to each other then so I didn’t really get any impression. There’s only the impression that I got when we entered our current company (PS COMPANY). However, at any rate, everyone was so big! That was the first impression that I thought of (lol).

―― With the exception of Hiroto, huh.

【RUKI】 Ah, that’s right (lol). It’s because the guys in my band are rather short. Us and Alice Nine got into an elevator together, and ((inside)) it felt like we were overpowered (lol). The tallest in my band is Uruha, but he’s still no match against Shou-kun. The day I stood next to Tora, I was absolutely overpowered (lol).

【Shou】 Because Tora is the tallest in Alice Nine, he’s like 182 cm or so.

【RUKI】 182 cm you say! ((I feel like I’m in)) Gulliver’s kingdom world.

【Shou】 Ahahaha. Gulliver’s kingdom (lol).

―― But talking about family structure, RUKI is the youngest of two brothers, and Shou-kun is the eldest son with a younger sister, right. Today the elder brother and the younger brother roles are reversed (lol).

【RUKI】 Ah, is that so. Somehow, now that we’re in the position of senior-junior, although the roles are reversed, the truth is my character is that of a younger brother, you know (lol)

―― It seems like the two of you grew up in a similarly strict households.

【RUKI】 That’s right, my family was strict.

【Shou】 Mine, too.

―― And yet, the two of you turned into band men…

【RUKI】 Ahahaha. That’s a backlash, a backlash (lol). This is the result that emerged from such strict environment. I couldn’t even dye my hair. Shou-kun’s family was also that strict?

【Shou】 Yes, pretty strict. I had to study and study, and then during junior high school the feeling of wanting to rebel came up. But they haven’t changed and a’re still as gloomy as they were then…

【RUKI】 Shou-kun, so gloomy (lol).

【Shou】 That’s true, am I not exuding ((that gloominess))!

【RUKI】 I-I see…… that’s difficult to say, isn’t it (lol). Naw, you’re sparkling, since you’re a vocalist (lol). Speaking of which, am I not also sparkling (lol).

【Shou】 No, that is surely a backlash as well. I think it’s precisely because there’s this dark part inside my heart, I’m searching for the light. During high school, I joined the basketball club, but then an accident happened, causing me not to able to participate in a match anymore, and it became my turning point.

【RUKI】 You had an accident?

【Shou】 Yes. Stuck in the car, couldn’t participate in the match, when I felt so numb like I didn’t want to do anything and it was becoming dark before my eyes, I saw the images from LUNA SEA-san’s Yokohama stadium ((LIVE)) and my numbness disappeared. I found the light at that moment.

【RUKI】 I see. So it wasn’t basketball.

【Shou】 No, it wasn’t basketball. This! was what I thought. RUKI-san is also following LUNA SEA, right?

【RUKI】 Of course, of course. With that meaning, we’ve come to the talk about musical roots, haven’t we.

【Shou】 Right.

【RUKI】 But I don’t think that the flow of the conversation is as it’s supposed to be (lol). But, Shou-kun has been restraining himself from talking ((more freely)). Really, be more enthusiastic~ . Speak more frankly~.

【Shou】 Ah, yes. I’m sorry!

【RUKI】 Hey, you’re still being stiff (lol). Wait a second, why don’t we change today’s plan into 『A Meeting to Unfold Shou-kun』 (lol)?

【Shou】 No, no. No matter how much RUKI-san is telling me to speak more frankly, it’s impossible without having drinks first (lol).

【RUKI】 Talk more! Stiff stiff stiff! However this is also Shou-kun’s personality, huh. Because this is the foundation of his true character. That’s one of Shou-kun’s strong points, I think. Besides, in our generation, in terms of the senior-junior relationship, there is also that strict generation, we’re ingrained by them, aren’t we. In that matter, since we’re from the same generation, I can understand pretty well.

―― Because that is also RUKI-kun’s real character, right.

【RUKI】 True, true. Even if I say so myself, it’s also my true personality.

【Shou】 That’s right. No, but, it’s because my personality has become stiff from the years we entered the company (lol). Right when we entered the company, I hadn’t been this stiff and was really stupid (lol). But I was really serious when it comes to the band, because the more we’re into it, the more we can become like seniors. And along with that, our respect ((for seniors)) is growing rapidly.

【RUKI】 Oh well. The same thing goes for us, the moment Alice Nine walked into the company, they seemed unfriendly and they just kept going ahead. There’s that ‘don’t come near me’ aura as well, right.

【Shou】 In the beginning we didn’t approach anyone, right, scary.

【RUKI】 In our case, when we first walked into the company, being from a society with a vertical structure, we were also unfriendly. I think that perhaps we were exuding the “don’t talk to me!” aura. Probably this sort of impression was left in Shou-kun even until now, huh (lol). We’ve become adults now, more humble, and now when we first met people, we’d surprise ourselves thinking, “He’s unexpectedly nice to talk to!” (lol).

【Shou】 Ahahaha. But I think that’s an essential thing in a vertically structured society. I don’t think there’s anything wrong in that.

【RUKI】 Right. This doesn’t come out in public much, but I think to be the man standing on top is also sensibly an important thing, even in the matter of living as a human being. Under that significance, I don’t think Shou-kun will bend that way, because, despite his outer appearance, he’s actually very manly. I’ve only heard the rumors from around, but it is said that even if Shou-kun appears to be gentle, when he’s angry, he’s going to be the first to use his hands (lol).

【Shou】 Ahahaha. No no.

translated by @theGazettE_INA & @Alice9_INA